Queensland's waste disposal levy
The new legislative framework focuses on reducing waste and promoting improved resource recovery. Disposal of waste to landfill will be the last resort. The Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 introduces an industry waste levy to:
- create a price signal to encourage waste generators to focus on waste avoidance and resource recovery, and to discourage unnecessary landfill disposal
- ensure a level of consistency with waste disposal costs in other states to deter unnecessary disposal of interstate waste in Queensland
- provide funding for programs that help establish better waste avoidance, resource recovery practices and overall waste management initiatives
- reduce the impact upon Queensland’s carbon footprint caused by waste disposed to landfill.
The industry waste levy is a price paid by waste disposal site operators in relation to commercial, industrial, construction, demolition and regulated wastes delivered to a waste disposal facility. The industry waste levy is largely an avoidable charge and the more recycling, the lesser the levy liability.
A Regulatory Assessment Statement (PDF, 451K)* for Queensland's industry waste levy proposal was prepared, which includes a cost-benefit analysis. The government commissioned the cost-benefit analysis from Synergies Economic Consulting (PDF, 965K)* to assess the impacts of the industry waste levy to business, government and the community over a 10-year period (2011–2021). The cost-benefit analysis and the regulatory assessment statement have been prepared as part of the Queensland Government's commitment to regulatory best practice.
Public consultation on the regulatory assessment process closed on 28 February 2011.
Industry waste levy commencement
The industry waste levy commenced on 1 December 2011. It was scheduled to commence on 1 July 2011. Due to widespread flooding throughout Queensland and the impact of Cyclone Yasi in north Queensland, the commencement of the levy was postponed until 1 December 2011.
View a map of the Queensland waste levy zone (PDF, 1.6M)*.
* Requires Adobe Reader
Last updated 24 January 2012